Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[mysterio2525]

Mara in particular has been creeping up boards too. Great block percentage plus he’s 7”3, he should go top 20

he's the one we need to leave... he was the key to their great defense

 

[Bacon Butkus Swanson]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2040077195591270539

Pass.

We’ve got plenty of skinny guys…..

We need some beefy athletes down low if we want to hang with the likes of UConn and Michigan.

 

[Illiniforlife]

Blackwell smoke is very real. There are other options, but Illinois is right at the top of the list.

How much do we have to worry about Michigan after they win the title?

 

[FI_890526]

Illinois is still exploring some 2026 high school options, which likely means one of the bench guys is leaving.

 

[Battle89]

Michigan will have $$$ to spend…

However…. Yax, Gayle and Burnett are all gone. Mara and Morez could be gone as well so a bit of production to replace…

Careful what we wish for, last time Michigan went shopping they came for our player.

 

[Illinisnake]

Are we sure Morez and Mara will leave? They both have eligibility and as much as I hate to say it, it seems like UM has an open checkbook. The will have all of their guards back, too, in addition to their new top recruit. Unfortunately I don't see Mich going away. I wish they would.

Mara, Yax, Morez, all gone to the NBA.

 

[Heisenbobble]

Illinois is still exploring some 2026 high school options, which likely means someone is leaving.

Zavier Zens is visiting this weekend. Not sure how I feel about this one.

 

[Illiniforlife]

Mara, Yax, Morez, all gone to the NBA.

No way I think morez and Mara both back

 

[Oranges]

he's the one we need to leave... he was the key to their great defense

No disagreement from me. Wouldn’t be upset if he left and winded up on the Bulls

 

[SkyysNotFalling]

A Michigan natty makes it more incentive for Johnson & Mara to go pro. Might as well go out on top and go to the league.

 

[LvilleILL1]

Illinois is still exploring some 2026 high school options, which likely means one of the bench guys is leaving.

Zens visiting this weekend. Brandon Lee and Mihailo are likely gone, could see one or two other depth guys going as well.

 

[frozenrope9190]

Zens visiting this weekend. Brandon Lee and Mihailo are likely gone, could see one or two other depth guys going as well.

As long as it's not the Big 4.

 

[Lakes333]

Who is Zens?

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

The teams mentioned are legit but from someone who’d know and I’ll let you all figure out who said this …

“He ain’t leaving the Big Ten and it’d be pretty f’ing awesome to see my son in the Orange and Blue …”

To come back to this… just PLEASE not Michigan.

 

[strobes77]

Zens visiting this weekend. Brandon Lee and Mihailo are likely gone, could see one or two other depth guys going as well.

If you actually want Zens you don’t need the two Iowa dudes, Jake Davis and Andrej. You just don’t.

 

[ILL21]

Blackwell
Andrej
Mirk
Tomi

Those 4 on experience alone makes you dangerous

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

Careful what we wish for, last time Michigan went shopping they came for our player.

I sure as hell don’t wanna see Mirk wearing Maize and Blue.

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

As long as it's not the Big 4.

Would Petro likely go back to Europe or transfer to another college?

 

[Zweebs]

With Michigan's money and most of their roster leaving i got to imagine they're going to be in almost every major transfer portal battle, including Blackwell.

 

[redwingillini11]

Is it possible blackwell is a quick close or is he going to visit a bunch of spots

I know we will be fine regardless in the end, but it sure would be nice to lock down our #1 target in 2 weeks or less.

 

[Bucktown]

My only concern with Blackwelll is if he’ll play defense. Didn’t seem too interested in the games I watched, but I think we would be playing for a championship if we had his shooting in our back court.

Could he be this year’s AJ Storr?

 

[Noblesville Illini]

Careful what we wish for, last time Michigan went shopping they came for our player.

And won a Natty with 5 transfers. Why not us?

 

[hoopsfan47]

Blackwell
Andrej
Mirk
Tomi

Those 4 on experience alone makes you dangerous

I am disappoerinted in low value that Z seems to be granted from our posters. With an off season with Fletch and some individual skill work and training, Z has a ceiling comparable to Mara and will be an irreplaceable piece of a team that can, if things come to fruition, win it all next season. I truly love the skills he brings, never seen before in Champaign other than Meyers (Miles) Leonard. Kids with his talent, athleticism, and experience are rare. We have one on the roster and he is irreplaceable. I pray we see another special season from the Croatian twins...and a true thank you to their Mom and Dad for raising a couple of great kids.

 

[BBlock24]

ESPN has Illinois 8th in their "Way-to-early" 2026-2027 rankings. They have UM at 1 and MSU 6th. Obviously doesn't factor in players coming and going via the portal/draft but nice to see pundits thinking highly of us.

 

[EmeraldCityIllini]

ESPN has Illinois 8th in their "Way-to-early" 2026-2027 rankings. They have UM at 1 and MSU 6th. Obviously doesn't factor in players coming and going via the portal/draft but nice to see pundits thinking highly of us.

Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings

The 2026 champion is crowned. We're rolling right into ranking next season's best teams -- with a few new rules.

www.espn.com

Purdue at 14... seems generous.